1,000 crack dens closed

The scale of London's crack epidemic is graphically illustrated today.

The blitz has closed nearly 300 since January, using draconian new powers.

An Evening Standard survey revealed the massive number of crack houses across London. It showed that since the start of the year Hackney closed 100, Camden raided 30, Lambeth shut down 27, Towers Hamlets raided 13. Even Kensington and Chelsea, London's most affluent borough, closed six.

But Haringey and Greenwich, both with high numbers of crack users, closed only one between them.

Police and councils are able to close down more crack houses by using powers introduced six months ago. Before the new legislation it was often difficult for police and councils to get enough evidence to obtain convictions, close down the den and stop it from re-opening.

But officers are now able to close houses taken over by drug users within 48 hours, as part of government efforts to deal with antisocial behaviour.

Crack is used by almost half London's addicts, with an estimated 45,000 users in London compared with just a few thousand a decade ago. Arrests for possession have soared by 103 per cent over the past five years.

The average rock of crack costs between ?10 and ?15. Addicts spend an average of ?500 a week on drugs, almost all of it funded by crime such as robbery, theft and burglary.

Commander Stephen James, head of the Met's drugs directorate, said: "Although poorer communities tend to have the highest number of crack users, we have evidence to suggest that a significant number of young professional people are turning to crack use. The new laws are essential and are applauded by the Met."

Last year the Met closed 516 crack houses. Hackney has faced an epidemic of council flats being taken over by drug addicts and reduced to squalor. Police and the borough have backed Operation Crackdown, which has driven users out of many of their most notorious haunts. Officers who raid crack houses are faced with horrific sights, said Inspector Tim Evans, the project's leader.

"We film the crack pipes - which are usually plastic water bottles or miniature spirit bottles - burnt silver foil, small wraps of cellophane, even blood spattered on the walls," he said.

A Home Office spokesman said: "Decent, law-abiding families have their lives devastated by having drug dealers and users on their doorsteps.

"Closing houses down where all class A drugs are sold and used can make a real difference."